The Select Guest

Featured 6.12-6.18.17 | In a world oddly dominated by men, there’s nothing more inspirational than a kick-ass female chef. Take Stephanie Izard for example: James Beard Award Winner, Winner of Food & Wine’s Best New Chef Award, Chef & Owner of three brilliant restaurants (Girl & The Goat, Little Goat and Duck Duck Goat), Cookbook Author (Girl in the Kitchen), Iron Chef winner (yes, she beat Masaharu Morimoto AND Michael Symon), former competitive swimmer and, as it turns out, very fast skipper. Kind of makes you feel like you haven’t accomplished a whole lot, right? All this to say, Stephanie is wildly talented and incredibly well-respected, not to mention kind, hilarious and really, really fun to be around. Oh, and in case you missed it, she can cook like a true boss. Truth is, I kind of want to be her, don’t you?Welcome to Stephanie's week.

I have started staying at the same hotel every time I visit New York City, which has let me get to know the neighborhood and make me feel more at home. Plus, the restaurant in the hotel, Maialino, is amazing (and also does their room service which is a great perk).

I belong to a Chicago chapter of US Masters Swimming. For anyone who swam while they were growing up, it’s a great way to get back into it. Not only is it good exercise, it’s a good release for a super competitive person like me.

This Little Goat is one of my newest projects. After so many guests at Girl & the Goat asked how we make our signature green bean dish, we decided to put the sauce in the bottle so people could make it at home. We’ve expanded the line from there and all of the products are inspired by different global flavors found on the menus in the restaurants.

I think we often forget that many children right in our own backyard are struggling to get the nutrition that they need. Share our Strength is trying to make sure that every child in the US has access to healthy foods.

more about stephanie

Stephanie Izard, James Beard Best Chef: Great Lakes recipient 2013, and 2011 Food & Wine Best New Chef, is the Executive Chef/Partner of three Chicago restaurants: Girl & the Goat, Little Goat and Duck Duck Goat.A 2011 James Beard Best New Restaurant nominee, Girl & the Goat has been praised by high-profile publications such as Saveur, The New York Times, Food & Wine, Better Homes and Gardens and others. Little Goat, Stephanie’s highly successful follow-up to Girl & the Goat, encompasses a diner, coffee shop, bakery and bar. In March 2016, Stephanie opened her third restaurant, a Chinese concept called Duck Duck Goat in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. Izard was the first woman to win Bravo’s Top Chef (Season 4/2008) and is the only winner of the original version of the show to take the title of Fan Favorite. She appeared on Iron Chef Gauntlet this spring. Among other recent projects, Izard has a product line called This Little Goat, consisting of cooking sauces and spice mixes for home cooks. Izard’s first book, Girl in the Kitchen, was released in the fall of 2011 (Chronicle). More information on Stephanie Izard can be found at www.stephanieizard.com or follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @StephAndTheGoat.

The Select 7

A curated exploration into the worlds of travel, food, beauty + wellness, fashion, home design and charity by some of the most interesting people out there. The Select 7 unlocks the worlds of today’s top tastemakers, acting as an an exchange hub for people who want both the aspirational and the totally obtainable to share their finds, recommendations and ideas.

TopSelects

A curated exploration into the worlds of travel, food, beauty + wellness, fashion, home design and charity by some of the most interesting people out there. The Select 7 unlocks the worlds of today’s top tastemakers, acting as an exchange hub for people who want both the aspirational and the totally obtainable to share their finds, recommendations and ideas.